Storm signals up in Mindanao as 'Crising' makes landfall

The lowest public storm warning signal remained hoisted over several Mindanao provinces hours after tropical depression "Crising" made landfall Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.

In a 5 p.m. update, The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley have been placed under storm signal number 1.

Crising was last spotted at about 80 kilometers southwest of General Santos City, packing winds up to 45 kph near the center as it moves west northwestward at 24 kph.

With this speed, Crising is expected to be at 60 kilometers southweast of Zamboanga City by Wednesday morning, Quitlong said.

He added that should its strength and speed remain the same, Crising may be at about 250 kilometers west of Zamboanga City by Wednesday afternoon and at 500 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City by Thursday afternoon.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the Northern, Eastern and Southern seaboards of Luzon, the Central and Eastern seaboards of Visayas and Eastern seaboard of Mindanao," Pagasa said.

It meanwhile raised a yellow rainfall alert in provinces in Caraga, Davao, and Northern Mindanao regions as well as Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos, and Sultan Kudarat will experience moderate to heavy or 5 to 15 mm of rainfall per hour, Pagasa noted.

Bad weather brought by "Crising" has also led to the cancellation of at least 23 domestic flights including 11 from Cebu Pacific, six from Air Philippines, four from Philippine Airlines, and two from Zest Airways: